Top for motor-vehicles



M. BUCH.

TOP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN-l6,1919.

1 30,840. Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

9 K Mam finch,

UNITED @TS orator.

MAX BUCH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T HENRY E. EDW'ARDS, OF JACKSQN,

MICHIGAN.

TOP FOB, MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 37., 1926?.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MAX Boon, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, a resident of Detroit, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in folding tops for motor vehicles, motor boats and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a top frame which will be wholly supported by a single standard on each side in addition to the usual wind shield connection. while all other bows and links will be wholly concealed from the exterior view by'the top covering. 7

Another object is to provide a top which when folded will lie wholly forward of the rear curtain line thus avoiding having the top project rearward of the vehicle body when folded and. enabling it to be concealed inside of or within the body line.

A further object is to provide a top which will be spring raised from its rearward position and also be spring projected.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention includes the novel features of construction and arrangei-nent and combination of parts hereinafter described, my said invention being defined by the appended claims. 1

My preferred embodiment of said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of the top in position upon a motor vehicle body, only a portion of which latter is shown in outline for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the top in its folded position.

The topbeing shown in side elevation the standard links and levers on one side only appear in the drawing but it will be understood that they are duplicated on the opp0 site side, and when, in the subjoined description the singular is used as applying to one side it will be understood also to apply to the opposite side.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing the numeral 1 designates a vehicle body, and 2 a vertical tubular standard which has its lower end pivotally connected to the body, preferably by having a forwardly curved portion 2 which is pivotally supported by a. pin 3 secured in a suitable manner to the vehicle body.

Pivotally supported at the upper end of the standard intermediate of its ends, as indicated at 4?, is a member 4:, the rear portion of which carries or may be continued to form a cover supporting bow indicated at at. The top covering material is indicated at 5.

The member supports at its forward end an outrigger bo arm (3, the rear end of which is connected to the front end of the member 4 by an articulated joint, preferably of the lock or stop type as indicated at G, the parts 4 and (3 constituting in eifect an articulated outrigger bow arm. The bow arm 6 carries, or is continued at its forward end to form, an outrigger .bow 6 to which the covering material is connected in the usual manner, and said bow is provided with the usual means for connecting it to the upper corners of the wind shield frame.

A member 7 is pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the member 4: and inclines upwardly and forwardly in relation thereto in the normal position of the parts, the pivotal connection being indicated at 7. The forward end of the member 7 -arries, or is continued to form, a cover supporting bow arm as indicated at 7.

To the rear end of the member 7 is connected a rear bow arm 8 preferably by a stop hinge or joint 8 and said member 8 carries at its rear end, or is continued to form, a cover supporting bow arm 8 to which the rear end of the top covering and the top of the back curtain are connected, the latter being designated The members 7 and 8 in effect constitute an articulated rear bow arm which is pivotally supported from the rear member 4 of the articulated outrigger bow arm.

The outrigger bow arm 6 and the forward portion of member 7 are connected by a distance link 9 and a'similar distance link connects the rear portion of the member 4 with the bow arm 8.

By breaking either of the joints 6 or 8 downwardly the other joint will break downwardly simultaneously and both front and rear portions of the top will fold together.

In order to prevent the top from oscillating around the pivot 4* and to cause the standard to automatically swing rearwardly l simultaneously with the breaking down of said joints I provide a link 11 connected at its forward end by a pivot pin 10 to the link 7 at a suitable distance in rear of pivot 7, the rear end of said link 11 being pivotally connected to the standard at a suitable point. e

I prefer to provide means for automatically raising the standard upwardly from its horizontal folded position, and also automatically projecting the top.

To accomplish the first mentioned effect I offset the pivot pin 3 to the rear of the standard and provide preferably within the standard a tension spring having its lower end connected to a fixed abutment 12 carried by a bracket secured to the body. I preferably utilize this same spring, designated 13, for extending or unfolding the top frame, and to this end extend the spring upward through the hollow standard to near the top thereof and connect said upper end by suitable means, such as link 14 to a lug P on the member 4. The lower end of the spring is preferably adjustably connected to the member 12 by a threaded rod 15. It will be obvious however that an 'indepenedent spring may be used for each part.

v Instead of extending members 4: or 7 so as to form cover supporting bows I might also, if so desired, extend the links 10 or 9 to form cover supporting bows and reduce the members 4 or 7 to connecting links, without altering in any way the action of the to It is also apparent that if a five bow top is desired either link 9 or link 10 could be extended to form or carry a cover supporting'bow, while to provide a six bow top both links 9 and 10 could be so extended and adapted.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A top of the character described comprising a single supporting standard on each side and a pair of articulated extension members supported by each standard, the members of each pair carrying a cover supporting bow, a member of one pair only being directly connected to the standard by a fixed pivot while the other member of the )air is supported from the first named memor, said standard having no other bows connected thereto. I

2. In combination, astandard adapted to be pivotally supported from a vehicle body, a member pivotally supported from said standard and carrying a cover supporting bow at one end, an outrigger bow arm articulated to the other end of said first named member, a second member pivoted to said first named member and carrying a cover supporting bow, and a rear bow support-ing arm articulated to said second member.

3. In combination, a standard adapted to be pivotally supported from a vehicle body. a member pivotally supported from said standard and carrying a cover supporting bow at one end, an outrigger bow arm articulated to the other end of said first named member, a second member pivoted to said first named member and carrying a cover supporting bow, and a rear bow supporting arm articulated to said second member, a link connecting said first member with the rear bow supporting arm, and a link connecting said second member with said outrigger bow arm.

4.. In a vehicle top a standard adapted to be pivotally connected with a vehicle body. a member pivotally connected with said standard by a fixed pivot and extending in front and rear thereof, a second member pivoted intermediate of its length to said first named member and front and rear extension bow arms articulated to the front and rear ends of said first and second named members, respectively.

5. In a, vehicle top a standard adapted to be pivotally connected with a vehicle body. a member pivotally connected with said standard by a fixed pivot and extending in front and rear thereof, a second member pivoted intermediate of its length to said first named member, and front and rear extension bow arms articulate-d to thefront and rear ends of said first and second named members, respectively, and means supported from said members for sustaining the top covering intermediate its ends.

6. In a vehicle top a standard adapted to be pivotally supported from a vehicle body,

a member pivotally connected intermediate of its length to said standard, an extension bow arm pivoted to the forward end of said member by a lock joint, a second member pivoted intermediate of its length to said first named member, and a rear extension bow arm pivoted to the rear end of said sec ond member by a lock joint.

7. In a vehicle top a standard adapted to be pivotally supported from a vehicle body, a member pivotally connected intermediate of its length to said standard, an extension bow arm pivoted to the forward end of said member by a lock joint, a second member pivoted intermediate of its length to said first named member, and a rear extension bow arm pivoted to the rear end of aid second member by a lock joint, other members forming links pivotally connecting said first and second members with said front and rear extension bows respectively, certain of said members carrying intermediate cover supporting bows.

8. In combination, astandard adapted to be pivotally supported from a vehicle body, a member pivoted at the upper end of said standard and inclining forwardly and downwardly and supporting a bow at its rear end, an outrigger bow arm articulated to the forward end of said member, a second member articulated to said first named member and carrying a bow at its forward end, link connecting said second member forward of its pivot and said outrigger bow arm, a rear bow arm articulated to the rear end of said second member, and a link connecting said first named member in rear of its pivot with said rear bow arm, and a link connecting said second member with the standard.

9. In combination a vehicle body, a'hollow standard pivotally connected thereto by an ofiset pivot, a member pivotally supported from said standard and carrying a cover supporting bow at one end, a spring within said standard acting on said member tending to normally hold it substantially transverse to the standard, said spring being also connected to said body whereby it also tends to raise said standard.

10. In combination, a vehicle body, a tubular standard pivoted thereto by an offset pivot, a member pivoted said standard by an offset pivot, spring means within the standard coacting with a fixed abutment on the body and with said member, an outrigger bow arm articulated to said member, a second member pivoted to said first member, a rear bow arm articulated to said second member, said members carrying cover supporting bows.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MAX BUCH.

to the upper end of f 

